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In the Midnight Hour > Bertha, Walkin' Blues, Tennessee Jed, My Brother Esau, Big Railroad Blues, Looks Like Rain, Mississippi Half-Step, Promised Land Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain > Samson and Delilah, Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Drums > Space > Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad > I Need a Miracle > Wharf Rat > Turn on Your Lovelight; Encore: Brokedown Palace

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Reviewer: Half-StepN->H - - August 16, 2012
Subject: BRRB
I appreciate most shows from 85 cause it's the year i was born (No March 5th Show tho). Any March 5th shows over the years that stand out to anyone??? And since i was 12 when i started listening to my dads records i've been hooked. seen furthur, the dead, DSO, and Ratdog Many times. Not Phil and Friends because i like Phil on the Bass and that's it (besides box of rain and just like tom thumbs blues....Anyway love how Jerry flubs the lyrics in B.R.R.blues then everyone kind of chimes in and creates their own interplay w/ vocals. AWESOME...4 just cause im not through it yet!

Reviewer: corby112 - - July 14, 2010
Subject: The Return of Cryptical!
The third and final of the 20th Anniversary shows where they busted out the first Cryptical since '72!

The show kicks off with Midnight Hour, a nice treat from the older days. This version isn't at all spectacular but the novelty of it great and it's a lot of fun. It kind of ends abruptly however and turns into a blistering rendition of Bertha. This one is full of energy and kicks things up a notch. I'm a big fan of blues Bobby tunes but Walkin' Blues slows things down a bit. There is some slick soloing but the final jam just ends and the song is aborted prematurely. Jerry's vocals in Tennessee Jed have some rough patches but this is a nice twangy interpretation. I'm not a huge fan of Esau but this version is enjoyable. Big Railroad contains more vocal flubs but the jam is excellent. On these audience recordings you can hear the crowd going nuts in the middle of the song. A beautifully delicate Looks Like Rain follows and it is one of the highlights of the first set. Brent and Jerry play off of one another, trading gorgeous licks that are the perfect accompaniment to Bobby's crooning. Immediately after Bobby's rant they launch into a stellar version of Half Step. Jerry's voice actually sounds very good with minimal cracking. This is a nice energetic up beat version with good harmonizing and playing throughout. The breakdown jam is very short but the Rio Grandee-o section is well sung with passion and excellent harmonizing. One of the best performances of the first set. This would be a perfect sweet ending but the boys launch into a rockin' Promised Land before the break that is short and to the point. A very promising first set to say the least.

The second set opens with a long Scarlet Fire that has a funky, almost reggae like brief intro before Jerry comes in with the vocals. The vocals are a bit rough in spots but the band is incredibly tight. Brent's harmonizing makes things a bit more pleasant and he crowd goes nuts when he joins in. Jerry makes up for the scratchy vocals with some ferocious playing. The whole band delves into some amazing group improv while staying true to the melody. The first jam is long and hot and is one of the highlights of the whole summer tour! The jam after the heart of gold bands is very jazzy with a lot of flighty group improvising that goes on and on before segueing into Fire on the Mountain. The jam in Fire is equally excellent but more mellow and not as blisteringly hot. The final jam does kick things back into high gear however. This is a truly great version of this duo that should not be missed. The lively mood is kept up with a scorching Samson in which Bobby exclaims, "In case y'all forgot it's Sunday" during the drumming intro.

After Samson the band stops for a moment and then something truly epic happens. Jerry plays the opening notes to Cryptical for the first time since 1972 and the crowd goes absolutely apeshit. I was only seven at the time of this concert and I can't imagine how amazing this event must have been live. The performance isn't very good but the moment is classic. After a short drum intro they launch into The Other One and the crowd again goes nuts. This is played much tighter and truly soars for a few minutes with some insane psychedelic jamming. Phil is dropping bombs left and right! After the first verse things simmer down for a second before building to another climax and the second verse. After the second verse they go back into Cryptical. Again, it's not the best played version but the historic impact is huge. Other versions from '85 kind of tail off but this one builds to a finish before going into drums. God Bless the Grateful Dead!

Goin' Down the Road emerges out of Space, alleviating the heaviness that proceeded it. It is full of energy and nice leads by Garcia. I can picture everyone dancing in Ecstasy. A short rousing Miracle emerges and quickly segues into a soulful rendition of Wharf Rat. Jerry's voice is rough in patches but it somehow fits the mood. Very sweet indeed. Out of the end jam they launch into a very lively Lovelight, a fitting closer to an epic show! The Brokedown encore is sweet icing on the cake.

Reviewer: Rsvlguy - - March 4, 2009
Subject: 2nd Show
This was my 2nd Dead show ever. The first one was 2 nights earlier and I had a blast!

A bunch of us were out front before the show, all had tickets but myself and hundreds were looking. Out of the blue this woman walked up to me and said "do you want my ticket?" I asked, "how much?" She said, "you can have it because I got a free ticket." Of course I said yes and gave her a big hug.

When I Need a Miracle started my friends said "this is your song." At the time I had no idea what they were talking about. But I sure did have a great time at my 2nd Dead show.

Reviewer: craven714 - - June 15, 2007
Subject: CRYP weed:Envolepment indeed
To further snap.pros' insight: the last time they did CRYP was 13 years, 3 mons, and 7 days earlier (791 shows prior). If you dont want to do the math that=9/23/72. Now granted this is a far cry from the '67 to '71 (or if you count this only '72) versions, but probably still just as nice to an appreciative listener (not unlike myself). Another note: GD only did CRYP 4 more times in 85 AND THATS IT. No more...ever(last-9/3/85). So listen with Grateful ears...I am :)

Reviewer: Spud777 - - May 14, 2007
Subject: Help I need a parking ticket
This show was jammed in the parking lot and surrounding campus. It wasn;t the real thing but close enough to pretend. There were about 400 of us near one set of speakers... it was one of the strangest shows I never saw.

The Tennessee Jed was when it started kickin in, while the speakers had some trouble during Midnight hour and some of Bertha.

After 3 shows this weekend, everyone was waiting for some magic in the set list... ugly rumors of Dark star and the eleven... or maybe a third set..

Of course the Cryptical caught everyone off gaurd. Funny but the night prior to the show KFOG did a detailed glimpse at "Thats it for the Other One" playing the studio version from Anthem of the sun... a little foreshadowing if you heard it.... The Love light was just as miraculous.

There was a shirt for sale from windy Acres, with the Greek Theatre and a smiling bear floating on a balloon overhead... with the words..

I peeked at the Greek ! nothing left to do but smile, smile smile.

Reviewer: gruUbic - - May 10, 2007
Subject: 20 years
Worthy

Reviewer: grateful kev - - November 10, 2006
Subject: one of the first tapes I ever got
a very good show with great stuff by soundman dan healy
scarlet-fire is the best one they did in 1985. oade recordings
are among the best aud recordings on this site... download
oade recording from 1985 you can you won't be dissappointed

Reviewer: jd martin - - November 4, 2006
Subject: Great moments in this show
This tape kicked me off onto the Dead. I was pumping gas my senior year of HS, and this hippie bus pulls up to get some gas. The guy's telling me he just got back from a west coast summer tour, and hey man here's a tape for you give it a listen (also gave me a burned copy of Cats under the Stars). The LLR on here blew me away! And so began my journey of lots of shows, good times, and memories...good one to have in the collection. I like the audience version of this tape best, because you get a good feel for the audience feedback on the great versions of stuff...

Reviewer: Family Man - - September 10, 2006
Subject: Fav Scarlet
Always loved the different intro on this Scarlet- almost a reverse rythm and very chunky. Fun to play over and over until you finally get tired of it! Also one of the better Jerry solos on this one.

Reviewer: johnnycomelately - - March 29, 2006
Subject: Waning
Audio is good, been to the Greek but not for this show (lot of dark vibes in the surrounding woods) but the soul is just ok on this one; didn't think the sb was so hot; gonna try the 9-12-81 show at the Greek-one of these is a gem i know

Reviewer: Mars245 - - August 18, 2005
Subject: Peaked at the Greek....under the Trees
Born in Berkeley , hehe, saw the Dead first in '67 in the park....kind'a spoiled . These shows were excellent , always well played, the Boyz well rested , nothing frantic & very well paced folks ....decent mix and OK sound with emphasis on vocals and leads . Lovely vocals with texture and passion...though I miss the booming bombs of Phil in the big Hall venues , bass~end a little lacking on this , but everything else pretty crystal and good aud tape.

And the end of Rain will leave you quivering , shivering , thrilling.... Cryptical , such a treat, then into an Other One that's almost scary , it might steal your face !

Reviewer: Jerryness Is Good - - July 14, 2005
Subject: Good 'Ol GD is Right
This is a classic show. I had a tape that I used
to burn on my car deck that whoever gave it to me
swore it was stolen from a band member. And it did
sound like that. Nice to have this show again. Too bad I
never made it to the Greek. Too young and too East.
Lifetime memories for sure for all who were there.

Reviewer: chinacat111 - - July 12, 2005
Subject: Great show!!!!
Give this one a listen and you will need it in your collection. One of their best perfomances of 85

Reviewer: Confusion's Prince - - November 7, 2004
Subject: holy crap!!!
good show, VERY good show!!!! Cryptical-->The Other One-->Cryptical, very awesome!!!Great show!!

Reviewer: snap,pro - - September 29, 2004
Subject: 20th anniversary show
I was at this show. Technically and ceremonially this was the 20th anniversary of when Phil moved down to where the band was living. The show was a Sunday afternoon; the weather was beautiful and the show started at 5:00 (Saturday started at 7 and Friday started at 9; maybe that was customary at the Greek, but it was cool to have the variety of showtimes). I think that this was the first time in a long, long time (10+ years?) that they played the entire Cryptical Envelopment version of The Other One. Personally the highlight of the first set was Big Railroad Blues. Obviously the crowd went nuts when they broke into "The other day they waited; the sky was dark and faded" (although of course the sun was still out, as it was still early).

Reviewer: fireonshakedownstreet - - August 22, 2004
Subject: PEAKING AT THE GREEK!!!
Cryptical>The Other One>Cryptical
The Phil Bomb to begin The Other One is UNREAL. Sounds like it was made by a computer.
Good Ol' Grateful Dead

Reviewer: tripel - - August 14, 2004
Subject: huh
1st Cryptical in 13 yeasrs and no comments?

Didnt see this show, but figured there'd be some witty commentary (or at least semi-coherant raves)

Anyone?

Bueller?

Notes

Oade PCM-AUD -- Schoeps MK41 (90 deg ORTF -- Tapers' Section) -> CMC4 ->Oade M118 prototype "b" -> Oade Modified PCM-F1 -> DAT (x1?) (44.1khz); Recorded by Doug Oade; Transfer: Sony d7 -> Sonic Sense Modified Sony 7 Pin Coax -> Zoltrix Nightingale (coax Mod) -> CDWAV (no sample Rate Conversion Performed); DAT>SHN conversion and seeding by Darrin Sacks;There are two circulating transcriptions seeded by Darrin Sacks, this seed is from the 44.1kHz DAT source; see alternate seed